Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain

Subject: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: Bobelix
Date: 05 Jan 18 - 04:37 PM

Hi, does anyone have any background info on the origins/author/antiquity of this song (sung by Julie Fowlis and featured in the Disney cartoon "Brave")? I don't need a translation, just background info.
Thanks!
Bob
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ClUSVXD5uY

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: michaelr
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 02:32 PM

Appears to be traditional Scots, perhaps associated with Clan Donald.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: GUEST,julia L
Date: 08 Jan 18 - 11:29 PM

I think you mean Scot Gaelic? Scots is a different language
best- Julia

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: Jim Brown
Date: 09 Jan 18 - 04:12 AM

In an article about the presence / absence of Gaelic in the movie, "Gaelic in Disney", in Celtic Life International, 2015, Dr Emily McEwen-Fujita quotes from the following about the song from an Atlantic Gaelic Academy e-newsletter:

“This song is thought to have originally been a Scottish pipe tune and the tune was used for an English song composed in the United States by Bernard Covert. One version of it, called, Jamie’s on the Stormy Sea, appeared in the journal of the whaling ship Euphrasia in 1849. The song crossed the Atlantic and was set to Gaelic words by Henry Whyte, who wrote under the pen-name Fionn. The Gaelic version came to Cape Breton in the St. Columba collection of Gaelic songs and used to be sung by Tommy MacDonald of the North Shore Singers. It was from Tommy’s singing that Julie Fowlis learned the song.”

Best,
Jim

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: Bobelix
Date: 11 Jan 18 - 04:09 PM

That's BRILLIANT, Jim! Just what I needed! Many thanks.
Bob

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 07:59 PM

Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird a' Chuan
(My Love Is On The High Seas)

Song by Eanraig MacIllebhàin (Henry Whyte) (1852-1913) in 1890s.
A writer who was known as ‘Fionn.’ 

It is a Gaelic translation of
"Jamie’s on the Stormy Sea",
by Bernard Covert 1849


The song tells of a man who one evening encounters a young girl sitting under a tree by the sea singing sadly about her love who is away at sea. She laments and longs for his safe return. The man sits by her and reveals he is her love returned safely from the seas.


Feasgar ciùin an tus a'chèitein
nuair bha 'n ialtag anns na speuran
chualaim rìbhinn òg 's i deurach
seinn fo sgàil nan geugan uain'.

Bha a'ghrian 'sa chuan gu sìoladh
's reult cha d'éirich anns an iarmailt
nuair a sheinn an òigh gu cianail
"Tha mo ghaol air àird a'chuain".

Thòisich dealt na h-oidhch' ri tùirling
's lùb am braon gu caoin na flùrain
Shèid a'ghaoth 'na h-oiteag chùbhraidh
beatha 's ùrachd do gach cluan.

Ghleus an nighneag fonn a h-òrain
sèimh is ciùin mar dhriùchd an Òg-mhìos
'a bha an t-sèisd seo 'g éirigh 'n còmhnaidh
"Tha mo ghaol air àird a'chuain".

Chiar an latha is dheàrrs 'na reultan,
sheòl an rè measg neul nan speuran.
Shuidh an òigh, 'bròn ga lèireadh,
's cha robh dèigh air tàmh no suain.

Theann mi faisg air reult nan òg-bhean
sheinn mu 'gaol air chuan 'bha seòladh.
O bu bhinn a caoidhrean brònach
"Tha mo ghaol air àird a'chuain".

Rinn an ceòl le deòin mo thàladh
dlùth do rìbhinn donn nam blàth-shùil
's i ag ùrnaigh ris an Àrd-Rìgh
"Bìon mo ghràdh 'th' air àird a'chuain".

Bha a cridh' le gaol gu sgàineadh
nuair a ghlac me fhèin air làimh i.
"Siab o dheòir, do ghaol tha sàbhailt,
thill mi slàn bhàrr àird a'chuain".




One fine evening at the beginning of May
when the bats were in the sky
I heard a young girl who was tearful
sing in the shade of the green branches.

The sun was setting on the sea
and no star had risen into the sky
when the maiden sang sadly
"My love is on the high seas".

The night-time dew began to come down
and its drops gently bent the flowers,
The wind blew a flagrant breeze,
life and refreshment to every meadow.

The girl tuned the melody of her song
soft and sweet like the dew in June
and this chorus kept on coming up:
"My love is on the high seas"

The day got dark and the stars shone,
the moon sailed through the clouds of the sky.
The maiden sat, distressed by sorrow,
with no desire for sleep or rest.

I drew close to this wonderful young woman
who was singing about her love who had sailed overseas.
Oh, her sad plaintive call was sweet-sounding:
"My love is on the high seas".

By this music I was willingly drawn
close to the brown-haired girl with warm eyes
as she prayed to the Lord
"protect my love on the high seas".

Her heart was breaking with love
when I took her by the hand
"be away from tears, your love is saved,
I came safely across the high seas"

.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 19 Oct 20 - 08:04 PM

"Jamie’s on the Stormy Sea",
by Bernard Covert 1849

1
Ere the twilight bat was flitting,
In the sunset, at her knitting,
Sang a lonely maiden, sitting,
Underneath her threshold tree;
And, ere daylight died before us,
And the vesper stars shone o'er us,
Fitful rose her tender chorus_
"Jamie's on the stormy sea!"

2
Warmly shone the sunset glowing;
Sweetly breath'd the young flowrs blowing;
Earth, with beauty overflowing,
Seem'd the home of love to be,
As those angel tones ascending,
With the scene and season blending,
Ever had the same ending_
"Jamie's on the stormy sea!"

3
Curfew bells remotely ringing,
Mingled with that sweet voice singing
And the last red ray seemed clinging
Lingeringly to tower and tree:
Nearer as I came, and nearer,
Finer rose the notes, and clearer;
Oh! 'twas heaven itself to bear her_
"Jamie's on the stormy sea!"

4
"Blow, ye West 'winds! blandly hover
O'er the bark that bears my lover;
Gently blow, and bear him over
To his own dear home and me;
For, when night winds bend the willow,
Sleep forsakes my lonely pillow,
Thinking of the foaming billow_
"Jamie's on the stormy sea!"

5
How could I but list, but linger,
To the song, and near the singer,
Sweetly wooing heaven to bring her
Jamie from the stormy sea;
And while yet her lips did name me,
Forth I sprang_ my heart o'ercame me_ "Grieve no more, sweet, I am Jamie,
Home returned to love and thee!"

.

Subject: RE: Origins: Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A' Chuain
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Aug 22 - 06:25 PM

Joe - combine threads